Gas-pressure regulator



(No Model.) 2' Sheets-Sheet 1. v H. J. BELL GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR.

No. 409,627. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet :2.

l H. J. BELL. GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD J. BELL, OF GLOUCESTER CITY, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE VELSBACH INCANDESCENT GAS LIGHT COMPANY, OF NEV JERSEY.

GAS-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,627, dated August 20, 1889.

Application filed June 6| 1889. Serial 110.313,327x (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HAROLD J BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gloucester City, in the county of Camden and State of New Jersey, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Gas-Pressure Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of that class of high-pressure gas-regulators which are especially adapted to be employed between the gas-meter and the supply-main, though also capable of use elsewhere; and the invention consists in a gas-pressure-regulatin g apparatus comprising an outer casing or main chamber having an inlet, an outlet, and a vent, an inner chamber having upper and lower gas-passages and valve-seats and an intermediate by-pass, automatic safety cut-off and pressure-regulating valves, a flexible diaphragm having an automatic safety relief-valve, cam-lever connections between the said diaphragm and cut-off valves, and a starting-valve for controlling the by-pass. l z5 The invention will be first particularly described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of a high-pressure gasregulator embracing my improvements. Eig. 2 is a section at a right angle to Fig. 1, both views showing the valves closed by the weight of the diaphragm and attached parts. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the position of the cam when the valves are wide open. Fig. -l is a detail view showing the position of the cam when the valves are closed by gas-pressure under the diaphragm.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a casing or chamber having a removable cover 2, which is provided with a vent 3 in its top. In the lower part of the casing 1 is an outlet 4, opposite which is an opening for an inlet-pipe 5, that projects into the casin g and has an inner chamber or valveseat casing (5 on its inner end. The inletllO attached inner1 chamber 6 from turning. The inner chamber 6 is provided at top and bottom with flanged openings S and 9 for the passage of gas. In the upper part of the oasing or chamber 1 is a fiexible diaphragm 10, composed of leather or other suitable material, having its outer edge secured between the body and cover of the casing. This diaphragm is provided with a central rigid p0rtion 11, of annular form, in the center of which is secured a tubular laterally-perforated casting or valve casing 12, screwthreaded for attachment of a cap 13, by which said diaphragm and valve-casing are connected. In the top of the cap 13 is an opening having inwardly and downwardly beveled edges to receive a weighted safety relief-valve 14, which is partly conical and partly cylindrical, as shown. This valve protects the flexible diaphragm 10 from the injurious effect of excessive pressure. The lower' part of the casting 12 is provided with lateral openings 15 for the passage of gas to the reliefvalve. Attached to the casting 121 is a depending rod 1G, the lower end of which connects with the arm 17 of a lever 1S, having a cam-slot 19, that engages an anti-friction roller 20, which is supported in suitable bearings 21, connected with the safety cut-off and regulating valves. These valves are two in number an upper valve 22 above the chamber G and a lower valve 23 within said chamber. The valves 22 and 23 consist of elastic disks that are connected in any suitable manner with an intermediate stem 24, and are provided with wing-guides 25, that move vertically in the gas-passages of the inner chamber G, which is provided with standards 2G, with which the cam-lever 1S is pivotally connected. The chamber (i is provided in one side with a by-pass opening 27, leading into the outer casing or chamber 1 between the two cut-off and regulating valves. This bypass 27 is controlled by an adjustable and independent starting-valve 2S, having a screwthreaded engagement with the out-er casing. If desired, a stuffing-box 29, provided with suitable packing, may be placed around said valve, as shown.

Then the apparatus is placed in position,

the valves 22 and 23 are closed by gravity against their seats at the upper edges of the gas-passages 8 and 9 ofthe inner chamber 6, the flexible diaphragm 1() and intermediate valve-conn ections being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Owing to the weight of the lowered diaphragm and connected valves, it is obvious that the chamber 6 will not be able to exert sufficient pressure on the under side of the upper valve 22 to overcome the downward pressure on the upper side of the lower valve 23, and therefore these valves 22 and 23 will remain closed until the startingvalve 28 is opened to permit the passage of sufficient gas to exert a lifting-pressure on the under side of the diaphragm. After the valves 22 and 23 have been started the valve 28 should be adjusted to permit the passage of only a small quantity of gas-say one cubic foot per hour, which will be sufficient to provide for starting the valves 22 and 23 automatically by closing the burner when the gas has been again turned on after it has been withdrawn or cutoff from the regulator by accident or otherwise. 1f the supply of gas to the regulator should be withdrawn while the burnersare in use, thereby removing pressure from the under side of the diaphragm 10, the valves 22 and 23 will 'at once close by gravity, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and prevent the escape of gas into the building, except the inconsiderable quantity that will How through the by-pass 27 when the supply is restored. By closing the burners the gas admitted through the by-pass will aeculnulate beneath the diaphragm in sufficient quantity to exert a lifting-pressure that will start the valves 22 and 23 from their seats and carry them into operative position for controlling and regulating the pressure of gas delivered through the apparatus. Vhile the valves 22 and 23 are in this position the cam 18 is substantially horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3, the anti-friction roller 2O being thus engaged with the central portion of the cam-slot. If the pressure of gas should become excessive, the diaphragm 10 will be forced farther upward, thereby actuating the cam in such a manner that the end of its slot 19 opposite the leverarm 17 will engage the roller 20 and force the valves 22 and 23 downward toward or onto their seats, as shown in Fig. 4L, thus nearly or quite closing the gas-passages, so as to diminish the pressure of gas delivered. As soon as the gas-pressure is thusv moderated the diaphragm 10 will descend and restore the valves 22 and 23 to their normal operative position. It will be seen that by means of the cam-lever connection between the diaphragm 10 and the valves 22 and 23 said valves are given a positive movement that insures an effective automatic operation in regulating the pressure and in closing the valves 22 and 23, both at an excessively high pressure and when the gas is withdrawn or cut off from the'regulator. The liability of accident and the waste, inconvenience, and danger of the escape of gas into a building are thus greatly lessened.

By referring to Figs. 2 and it will be seen that the flexible or elastic cut-off and regulating valves 22 and 23 are in annular form and are secured to the flanged ends of the stem 24 by means of flanged blocks 30 and 31, that are fastened to the ends of the intermediate valve-stem by screws 32 in axial line with the stem. Each block 30 and 31 is formed at one end or side with a central boss 33, that enters the central opening of the annular valve, and so secures it in place without exerting undue compression on the elastic substance of said valve. rThe lower block 30 carries the wing-guides 25 of the lower valve, while the guides of the upper valve are formed on or carried by the upper end of the valvestem. The anged upper portion of the stem 24 and the flanged portion of the lower block 30 are beveled, as shown, beneath the respective upper and lower elastic valves, to enable them to seat tightly. The upper block 31 carries the bearings 21 of the anti friction roller 20, which is engaged in the cam-slot 19 of the lever 18, said roller being journaled by means of a pin 34, having nuts 35 on its ends to facilitate its insertion and removal. The standards 26 have preferably a screw-threaded connection with the top of the inner chamber G, and their upper ends are screw-threaded for attachment of a twopart cross-bar 36, that is adjustably held in place on the standards 26 by means of nuts 37, and is separable at its center to facilitate the attachment and centering of the cam lever 18, through which the cut-off and pressure-regulating valves are actuated. By means of the centrally-separable two-part cross-bar 36, on which the cam-lever 18 is fulcrumed, said lever can be accurately centered in po sition and be readily removed when desired, and by means of the nuts 37 it can be adjusted vertically as maybe required," to cause the valves 22 and 23 to seat properly. By making these valves of rubber or other suitable elastic material, theyare enabled to close the gas-passages 8 and 9 tightly, and their action will not be affected by any grit-ty deposit on the valve-seats.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a gas-pressure regulator, the combination, with a casing or chamber having a Ilexible diaphragm, an inner chamber having gaspassages communicating with the said casing or'outer chamber, and automatic safety cutoff and pressure-regulating valves for .controlling said gas-passages, of camelever connections between said diaphragm and valves, substantially as described.

2,. In a gas-pressure regulator, the combination of an outer chamber or casing, an inner chamber having gas-passages communicating with the outer chamber, automatic safety cutoff and regulating valves, an anti-friction roller connected with said valves, a cam having a slot engaged with said roller, a fiexi- IOO ble diaphragm, and a rod or lever connecting the said diaphragm and cani, substantially as describedi 3. In a gas-pressure regulator, the coinbination of the casing 1, the flexible diaphragm 10, having a depending rod 16, the chamber G, having gas-passages S and 9 and bypass 27, the safety cutoff and regulating valves 22 and 23, roller 20, cani 18, and starting-valve 2S, substantially as described.

4. In a gas-pressure regulator, the combination of the flanged valve-stein 24, the annular elastic valves 22 and 23, and the flanged blocks 30 and 3l, for securing the valves to said stem, substantially as described.

5. In a gas-pressure regulator, the combination of the flanged stein 24, having guides at one end, the annular elastic valves 22 and 23, the flanged block 30, provided with guides and having a central boss that engages the lower valve, the llanged block 31, having a central boss engaged with the upper valve, and means for securing said blocks to the ends of the valve-stein, substantially as de* scribed.

6. In a gas-pressure regulator, the combination,with the diaphragm 10, the elastic valves 22 and 23, and the steni 24, to which said Valves are secured, of cam-lever connections between the diaphragm and valves, substantially as described.

7. In a gas-pressure regulator, the combination of the standard 2G, the adjustable twopart cross-bar 3G, the lever 18, centered on said cross-bar and provided With a cain-slot 19, the anti-friction roller 20, engaged in said slot, and the valves 22 and 23, having a stein that carries bearings for said roller, substantially as described.

In testinionywhereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

Il. J. BELL. lVitnesses a JAMES L. NoRRIs, JAMES A. RUTHERFORD. 

